With a booming voice and looming physical presence, Burnett is commonly ranked among the leading performers in electric blues; musician and critic Cub Koda declared, "no one could match Howlin' Wolf for the singular ability to rock the house down to the foundation while simultaneously scaring its patrons out of its wits." A number of songs written or popularized by Burnettโsuch as "Smokestack Lightnin'", "Back Door Man", "Killing Floor" and "Spoonful"โhave become blues and blues rock standards.
At 6 feet, 6 inches (198 cm) and close to 300 pounds (136 kg), he was an imposing presence with one of the loudest and most memorable voices of all the "classic" 1950s Chicago blues singers. This rough-edged, slightly fearsome musical style is often contrasted with the less crude but still powerful presentation of his contemporary and professional rival, Muddy Waters. Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller), Little Walter Jacobs, and Muddy Waters are usually regarded in retrospect as the greatest blues artists who recorded for Chess in Chicago. Sam Phillips once remarked, "When I heard Howlin' Wolf, I said, 'This is for me. This is where the soul of man never dies.'" In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him #51 on their list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".
Burnett died at Hines VA Hospital in Hines, Illinois on January 10, 1976 and was buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Hillside, Cook County, Illinois in a plot in Section 18, on the east side of the road. His large gravestone, allegedly purchased by Eric Clapton, has an image of a guitar and harmonica etched into it.
The Howlin' Wolf Memorial Blues Festival is held each year in West Point, Mississippi. Wolf's Juke Joint Jam is another annual Howlin' Wolf tribute festival held in West Point. Some of the artists who have played 'Wolf Jam' include Wolf's lead guitarist Hubert Sumlin, Muddy Waters' back band of Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Calvin "Fuzz" Jones and "Steady Rollin" Bob Margolin, Willie King, Blind Mississippi Morris, Kenny Brown, Burnside Exploration, etc. The festival is held at the 500-acre (2.0 km2) festival grounds known as Waverly Waters Resort.
A popular music venue in New Orleans, Louisiana was named The Howlin' Wolf when it opened in 1988.
Burnett was portrayed by Eamonn Walker in the 2008 motion picture Cadillac Records.
I asked for water she gave me gasoline
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, I asked her for water, oh, she brought me gasoline
That's the troublingest woman
That I ever seen
Oh, the church bell tollin', oh, the hearse come driving slow
Oh, the church bell tollin', oh, the hearse come driving slow
I hope my baby
Oh, tell me baby, oh, when are you coming back home?
Oh, tell me baby, oh, when are you coming back home?
You know I love you, baby
But you've been gone too long
The song "I Asked for Water" by Howlin' Wolf is a classic blues tune that talks about a troubled relationship that the singer has been in. The opening lines of the song speak volumes about the situation the singer finds himself in. He has asked his partner for water, but instead, she brings him gasoline. This line can be seen as a metaphor for the situation as a whole, with the singer asking for something pure and essential, like water, but getting something dangerous and flammable instead. The fact that the woman has brought him gasoline instead of water shows that there is a significant problem in this relationship.
The chorus of the song speaks about the troubles that the singer is facing due to this woman. He explains that she is the "troublingest woman" that he has ever seen, indicating that she is causing him a lot of stress and pain. The second verse speaks about the sadness that the singer feels, with the church bell tolling and the hearse driving slowly. This verse is a sign that the singer is losing hope and fears that his relationship is coming to an end. He hopes that his partner will not leave him, but the tone of the verse suggests that he is not very optimistic about his future.
The last verse of the song is a plea to his partner to come back home. He tells her that he loves her, but she has been gone too long. The entire song is a showcase of the singer's pain, heartache, and frustration. He is asking for help and a way out of this situation. The song conveys a deep sense of emotion and shows the power of blues music when it comes to expressing such feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, I asked her for water, oh, she brought me gasoline
I requested for water, however, what she gave me was gasoline.
That's the troublingest woman
That I ever seen
That woman is the most problematic person I have ever encountered.
Oh, the church bell tollin', oh, the hearse come driving slow
I hear the sound of the church bell and notice a hearse driving slowly.
I hope my baby
Don't leave me no more
I have a desire that my exclusive partner never leaves me again.
Oh, tell me baby, oh, when are you coming back home?
Could you inform me, darling, when you are planning on returning home?
You know I love you, baby
But you've been gone too long
I have strong affection towards you, but it has been too long since you departed.
Lyrics ยฉ BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: CHESTER BURNETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@maximuskhan2100
For my money Chester is the King of the Blues.
@mattpeckham667
the guitar on this...just when you think you know where it's going to go, it goes somewhere else. This sounds like the soundtrack to a nightmare...and I mean that as the highest compliment. Terrifying. Hail the Wolf...
@berachtdorian6191
Wow. That is exactly what it sounds like.
@nurkenrustem6044
@@berachtdorian6191 Perfectly defines these fever dreams.
@emilmaze
Agreed. For the small number of notes, it's, for lack of a better term, all over the place. I discovered this song when I was maybe 12 and listened to it regularly for the past 14 years since, and only recently did I attempt to learn it and it's incredibly difficult to get it down properly. you said it perfectly, when you think you know where it's going to go, it goes somewhere else.
insanely good performance from all of them. certainly my number one favorite howlin wolf track
@gbxpert
That's Hubert Sumlin with those great guitar licks
@winstonchurchill624
So are you telling me that if I drink gasoline, I'll get a voice like this guy?
@anon_400
Drink hard whiskey and smoke cigars man.
@richtfingers
No, you have to be a god to sing like that.
@anti-rehabrelapse5996
Well i drank some mixed fuel by accident once. It just gave me a headrush and made me puke. No voice though